Oral Health Champion Training Delivered in Kingsbridge to Support New School Dental Initiative
Our Dental Outreach Team recently delivered Oral Health Champion Training to staff from Education South West in Kingsbridge, supporting a new initiative designed to tackle the growing challenge of limited access to NHS dentistry across Devon.
The programme recognises the important role schools can play in promoting good oral health among children. In many communities across the county, families face difficulties accessing routine dentistry, making prevention and early education more important than ever.
As part of this effort, schools are identifying staff members to become Oral Health Champions – individuals trained to promote positive oral health messages within their school communities. These champions help encourage good habits such as regular toothbrushing, healthy food choices, and early dental visits, while also sharing practical advice with pupils, families and colleagues. Find out more about the initiative here.
Our Oral Health Champion Training provides school staff with the knowledge, resources and confidence to deliver these messages effectively. The training covers the causes of tooth decay, practical prevention strategies, how to support supervised toothbrushing initiatives, and ways schools can embed oral health into everyday learning and wellbeing activities.
Karen, who delivered the training session in Kingsbridge, highlighted the importance of equipping schools with the right tools to make a difference.
“Schools are in a unique position to influence lifelong health habits. By training Oral Health Champions, we’re giving staff the confidence and practical knowledge they need to support children and families. Small changes in daily routines, like brushing twice a day with fluoride toothpaste, can have a huge impact on children’s health and wellbeing.”
By building oral health knowledge within schools, the programme aims to help more children establish healthy habits early and reduce the risk of preventable dental problems. We’re proud to support this initiative and look forward to seeing the positive impact it has across the region.
Interested in becoming an Oral Health Champion?
If your school or organisation would like to find out more about our Oral Health Champion Training, please contact our team at dentaloutreach@plymouth.ac.uk or visit our website for further information.
